To weed the Muslims out from the infidels, terrorists asked people to recite the shahadah to prove their faith. They asked other things too, like certain key passages of the Koran, the name of Mohammad's mother, that sort of thing - it was al-Qaeda Question Hour. The wrong answer meant death.

After that, many, myself included, wondered: Should we - Muslim or not - learn the basics of Islam and have a read through the Koran? If one of us ever finds herself in a situation similar to that of Westgate Mall victims, could even a rudimentary knowledge of Islam save us?

Islam gives the kufar three choices during jihad: convert, submit, or die. If you convert under duress, isn't that the same as submitting? So, it really boils down to this - would you rather live on your knees or die standing?

I doubt any of us can definitively know what we would do while under attack by terrorists. How difficult would it be to recite a few words if you had a knife to your throat?